Celebrities who died of overdoses

As a highly respected and critically-acclaimed actor of the stage and screen, New York resident Philip Seymour Hoffman seemed to live a life that was worlds away from the intense spotlight of Hollywood and all that comes along with it. So it was quite shocking when he called into celeb gossip news site TMZ in May 2013 to deliver some intimate information: The actor admitted to a year-long relapse that included heroin and prescription pills following 23 years of sobriety.

The good news was that he seemed poised for a rebound, one that would roll on through 2013 with a high-profile turn in "The Hunger Games" franchise and preparations for his sophomore directing effort to star Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal.

None of that mattered on Feb. 2 when his body was discovered in his New York apartment with reports claiming that a needle was found next to his 46-year-old body. Official confirmation could take weeks, but CNN is reporting that the father of three died as a result of a drug overdose.

While his friends, family and fans mourn this tragic loss, we pause to take a look back at how unforgiving addiction can be and the famous faces who left too soon. Keep clicking for more photos of famous people who died from drug or alcohol-related overdoses ...